A/N: I don't own Magi. Only Zara and other original characters are mine.
Please Note that this story follows the Manga version of Magi: Labyrinth of Magic.
Thanks to twistedlittledoll, TheLazyCouchPotato, .Lit, Minamicchi, Megami-san, Alana Fox, Silv3rR0s3 and guest reviewers for reviewing this story
Chapter 10
"Is she okay?"
"Mister this is Zara, Zara this is Mister Sin, we met him on the road standing naked," Aladdin explained.
"That's nice," she said not really listening to the boy's words as her hormones took over her cognitive function causing the school girl to be unable to take her eyes off the man who flashed her a handsome smile causing the young woman's hear to skip a beat.
Zara had been so busy eating the eye candy that it took her a moment to register what the boy had said until she blurted out "…did you say Naked!?"
Morgiana confirmed with a nod that indeed the man had been sans clothes as she handed Zara her short sword and shield back.
"Step away from the kids, pervert!" she exclaimed pointing the blade in Sin's direction.
'Just my luck, this guy's a flasher,' Zara thought holding back how disappointed she was that just as quickly as she had develop a crush on the man it had gone away.
"Wait! It's not what you think, I was robbed while I was sleeping and the thieves made off with everything including the clothes on my back," he said a bit embarrassed and hoping that Zara would lower her sword.
Confirming with her companions Zara lowered the sharp point, "I see, well I'm sorry to hear that, and It does explain why you're wearing Aladdin's clothes. I would lend you something of mine but it would cover you about as well as Al's clothes."
Zara didn't have many pieces of clothing while her closets back in the school dorm and at her home in the states were filled to the brim with every style of clothing she could get her hands on, she had to make do with the few things that could fit in her backpack.
Aside from the calf –length pants, short-sleeve top and her wonder woman bracelets she was sporting thanks to finding a clothing stall while traveling the desert the only other things she had to wear were the sandals on her feet, a short dress Tiberius had gotten her in Pita and her Wonder Woman costume.
"Don't worry, these will do until I can get a change of clothes in Balbadd. Speaking of Balbadd, Aladdin tells me that you were all heading to the country," Sin brought up.
"Al…." she muttered while giving the boy a side glance. Sometimes she found the boy to innocent for his own good.
"Since I happen to be heading there myself, why don't I accompany your group," the man offered.
"Would you give us a moment," Zara said pulling Aladdin and Morgiana aside to form a huddle to discuss what action to take.
"We should keep our guard up around this guy," Zara whispered. "Maybe we can ask him a few questions to determine his true intentions."
"What kind of questions?" Morgiana asked speaking up.
"I don't know, maybe like finding out if he's really a merchant. Maybe asking if he's an importer exporter. Or asking if he has a family or is married," she suggested picking a random question.
"Oh I get it," Aladdin responded before looking at Sinbad and yelling "Hey Mister! Zara wants to know if you're married!"
Zara felt absolutely mortified at the young boy's actions. Quickly she placed her hand over Aladdin's mouth.
"Al!" she yelled picking up the short boy. Seeing his eyes get misty at the thought that he had made the girl mad at him, Zara let out a groan not being able to stay angry at her the cute boy considering he was only following her suggestion.
Sin approached the small circle with a look of amusement on his face from watching their antics. He supposes that it was only natural that the woman would be curious, having had similar inquiries from various women he had met. Something his own men teased him about.
"No need to be embarrassed, as a matter of fact I'm not married," he said directing his response towards Zara.
"Perhaps you'd like the job," he teased with a wink and smile, flirting as if it was second nature to him.
Zara could feel her face heating up from the look he gave her.
"Why would I care if you were married as a matter of fact ho would ever want to marry a playboy like you," she huffed before taking Morgiana and Aladdin hands and dragging them behind her as they moved ahead on the road with Sin following behind them.
After a mile the older girl released the children from her grip. While flying she had estimated that there was still another six miles to go before they reached the city-state.
"Maybe we should just fly…" she muttered.
"How much further until we reach Balbadd?" Aladdin asked.
"It's at least another few miles," Sin answered having caught up with the group.
"Hey Mister, how big is the city?" the young boy inquired.
As the man walked in front with the boy and Morgians talking, Zara walked behind them. It took all her will power not to keep looking at the man.
'Come on Zara get a grip! You are fierce and formidable woman!You do not like this man, you just met him!' she kept repeating in her head.
"You're upset," Morgiana commented from beside her.
"Huh? Oh no I'm just overthinking things, it's nothing. Say how about we play a game to pass the time?" she suggested to the girl who quietly agreed to participate and quickly made up a game on the fly.
As Sin walked in front of her, Zara couldn't help but stare at his backside.
'Just when I think I'm out, those cheeks pull me back in,' she thought feeling a bit hypercritical calling the man a pervert when she was ogling the older male.
After walking another five miles and finishing their game, which Aladdin and Sin eventually joined in, Zara caught Sin staring at Morgiana.
"She's only fourteen," Zara told him as she stood by the young fanalis in a protective manner and placed her hand on the golden rope she carried at her side, "Don't make me use this," she warned,
"Oh no, I was just thinking how interesting it was to meet someone like her," he assured.
Zara wasn't sure what the age of consent was in their world, but her twenty-first century values made her weary of the grown man that appeared to look at the young teen with anything other than respectful intentions.
"Hey are we there yet?" Aladdin asked for the fifteenth time since they had left the small camp.
"Just over that hill, and you can see the town," Sin informed them.
"I can smell the sea," Morgiana informed,
Aladdin ran ahead to the top of the hill.
A big port city could be seen from the cliff side, impressing the group. Aladdin and Morgiana weren't accustom to such large settlements, as for Zara she impressed from an archeological standpoint. Perhaps she could bring something back with her to show Professor Solomon.
"So this is Balbadd!" Aladdin exclaimed as the group entered the heart of the city.
"Yep it's more of a city-state than a country, but this place is a central point for the trading of many nations," Sin informed them. "For generations, the Saluja Family has been ruling the country.
'He did say he was a merchant, so it makes sense that he would know the places to conduct trade,' Zara thought as she looked over at the man.
"Recently thought the country has become disheveled," he warned as they walked pass groups of beggers and homeless people.
++++++ A New Reality+++++++
As they were passing the market on the edge of the canal, the group was looking at some of the items being advertised.
"Lady! Buy this necklace, I give you discount, best offer in the city!" A man shouted in her face.
Distracted by the shopman, the woman became separated from the rest of her group. Looking around she couldn't find any sign of them despite their odd hair colors standing out among the sea of dark hair.
"Don't worry your friends are fine, you'll catch up to them soon enough," a voice said from behind her.
Zara turned around to see who had spoken but saw no one.
"Down here girlie!" the voice called.
Looking down Zara found a familiar face staring up at her or rather at her chest.
"Wiseman! Theo! What are you doing here?" Zara asked, not expecting to run into the short old man in Balbadd.
"Wrong girlie! I'm not Theo the Wiseman, I'm Dario the Wise, his cousin and I too am a magician with visions of the future," he corrected as the two moved aside to a small alley.
"I don't have long, but I came to give you a push in the right direction at the insistence of my cousin. Pay attention, if you want to defeat Lady Moon, you'll have to confront her on her own turf, meaning you have to go to Kou."
"Kou….okay, what else?"
"Also…um forgot, Here have a peach" the old man admitted causing the girl to face palm before accepting the fruit..
"Seriously that's all? Can't you tell me how to win against her or if she's sending anyone else after me?" Zara asked.
Before he could reply, the sound of her name cause Zara to turn around, by the time she turned back Dario had disappeared.
++++++A New Reality++++++
"There you are Zara!" Aladdin called, "Thanks to Morgiana we were able to find you."
"I caught your scent," Morgiana Clarified.
"Sorry," Zara apologized, as she handed the fruit in her hand to the other girl. "I got distracted by a fight I saw."
"There's been a lot of violence in the street as of late but You don't have to worry about being in danger, I know one of the safest place in the city," he assured them as the group approached a large building. "I always stay at the country's best luxury hotel."
The three couldn't help but frown at hearing that the place was a luxury hotel. While Zara had taken some of the treasure Alibaba had left for her, in the months she had been traveling she had depleted most of the money on the bare necessities, which in the desert came at a high price.
Zara took out the bag of coins from her travel satchel and looked at the remaining coins, she wasn't sure how much she could spend here considering who knew where her journey would take her next not to mention if something were to happen to Aladdin or Morgiana and they had emergency expenses.
Voicing similar worries Morgiana said "I'm worried about the cost, I don't have much money…"
"Me too…" said Aladdin.
"Maybe we should find a cheaper inn," Zara suggested taking Aladdin and Morgiana's hand to search elsewhere.
"Don't worry about a thing," Sin said, "My subordinates should've arrived before us, so they'll pay. I really like this place and would hate for you to stay anywhere else tonight."
The three were surprised at the man's offer. While Zara was a bit unsure about accepting the man's offer, the possibility of sleeping on an actual bed, fresh food and having a warm bath after so long was tempting not to mention that it would be free of charge.
"Thank you Sin!" Zara practically knocked the man down from the force of the hug she sprang on him causing the man to laugh at the girl's sudden display of enthusiasm and affection towards him after having threatened him a couple times since they met that morning.
Morgiana bowed in thanks while Aladdin cheered. 'Thank you! Gee Mister you must be rich, aren't you!"
The group entered the hotel only to receive weary looks from the other guest and hotel employees.
"Hey you! You're a suspicious character!" The guards yelled as they surrounded Sin.
"How am I suspicious?!" Sin scoffed.
Looking at the display a weary expression appeared on Zara's face. 'I knew it was too good to be true…'
Grabbing hold of the boy and girl beside her she said, "Come on, we should probably find a place to stay before it gets dark."
As they were about to head for the exit two men approached sin. "Lord Sin! Where have you been this whole time," the shorter of the two men asked causing the guards to release the purple haired man.
"Wait Zara, look," Aladdin pointed out as he let go of her hand and approached being followed by the two girls.
+++++A New Reality+++++
"….I see… so our master had caused you some trouble. In accordance with our master's wishes, please leave the hotel charges to us," the white-haired male told them.
After the situation had been cleared, arrangements had been made for everyone to stay in the hotel, though Zara had barely been paying attention to the details,
'This guy's real cute and the silent red-head next to him is a total hunk,' Zara thought as she looked over Sin's subordinates.
'Calm yourself Zara, now's not the time to go man crazy,' she said, slightly berating herself.
"So Sin really is a Merchant staying at this hotel, well I guess it would be rude to reject such a generous offer," Zara said in a cool tone, doing her best to hide how giddy she was at the thought of getting to spend the night in luxury after spending months at either cheap inns or camping.
Aladdin made no effort in hiding his excitement, "Thank you Mr. Subordinate!"
As Sin was being dragged away by the white-haired young man he quickly added. "See you guys later! Let's have lunch tomorrow! My treat!"
The taller of the two subordinates looked at Morgiana with a silent intensity. A bit worried about the younger girl, Zara took her friend's hand in her own "Come on you guys, the maid is waiting to show us to our room."
Zara couldn't help herself and gave the men another look only to turn red in embarrassment when they caught her and Sin gave her a quick wave.
As the three men walked to their rooms, the purple haired man knew what was on the taller man's mind.
"That girl Morgiana, She's also a fannalis , I was surprised too," Sin told the red-haired male.
"Yes. It is uncommon." The younger man responded.
"By the way, Sin, It can't be that all of your luggage got stolen again, right?" the other man asked.
"It got stolen," sin replied getting a shocked look in return
"Stolen?! Did you forget how this country is dying?!" he yelled shaking the other man back and forth in frustration,
"HAha it's fine," Sin brushed off, "Just leave it to me I'll figure something out."
Letting the man go his advisor said "When will you become aware that you're a king? Answer me King Sinbad."
Sinbad gave the man a poignant look, "Don't expose that!"
"This is your room," the maid said as she opened the door reveling a large suite with two large beds and large windows. The maid placed a bowl of fruits and cups of tea on one of the tables.
"Wow! It's gorgeous!" Aladdin exclaimed running in and jumping on one of the large beds.
"Talk about swanky," Zara muttered as she put down her backpack and threw herself onto the second bed surprised at how soft it was and waved the other girl over.
"It there's anything you don't understand don't hesitate to ask," the maid said as she watched the guests in amusement at their reactions to the room.
"Miss, I have a question…do you know a guy named Alibaba?" Aladdin asked.
"Aladdin, this is a big city I doubt it'll be tha-"
Before Zara could finish her sentence a loud crash interrupted as the maid knocked over the fruit bowl.
"I'm sorry," she apologized picking up the fruits. "That name surprised me a little, though now that I think about it that name is quite common. Your name has the same name as a famous person in this country."
"Who?"
" Wonder Man Alibaba, this countries number one criminal. He's the head of the thieves' guild. They're currently causing problems for the city," she explained.
"Well it can't be the same guy, our friend may be a bit greedy but he's no thief," Zara told the maid recalling the boy's obsession with finding the treasure of the dungeon they had explored together.
"Anything else I can do for you?" she asked
"Where can I take a bath?" Zara asked.
++++++ A New Reality +++++++
After spending enough time in the bath that her fingers all resembles prunes, Zara got out of the bath and realized her clothes were nowhere to be found, carefully treading to the door she opened it slightly and called out to her two suitemates.
"Hey have you guys seen my clothes?"
"The maid took it the laundry," Morgiana answered from the bed where Aladdin was still jumping up and down.
"Mind passing me my backpack?" she asked having no choice but to where one of the other pieces of clothing she had.
Having chosen to wear the dress from Pita instead of her wonder woman costume, Zara walked out pulling down on the dress that she still felt was short on her.
"Hey! What happen to the fruit platter?"
"Oh I ate it," Aladdin said flashing Zara an innocent look that made one believe the boy could do no wrong.
Suddenly there was a chorus of stomach growls coming from both girls.
There was one apple left in the fruit bowl. Taking the bowl she placed it in front of Morgiana.
"Here Mor, you take the apple," she said to the surprised girl. At first the red head was hesitant to take the red fruit.
With a sigh, Zara told her "Take it, I can rest more easily knowing you aren't going to bed hungry."
Once the girl took the fruit, Zara excused herself saying, "I'm going to go and explore the hotel a bit."
As Zara closed the door, her stomach grumbling for food once more "There gotta be a kitchen or something around here."
The girl made her way downstairs to the common area in hopes of finding one of the hotel attendants to ask for food to be brought up to their room.
'This would be so much easier if there was a phone to call room service with…'
"Must be my lucky night! Now I don't have to make eye contact with all those vagabonds. You Woman! How much for an hour?" a slurred voice shouted.
Zara had been approached by a hotel guest and one with far too much money and time if his clothing were of any indication. From the smell he was emitting and the way he could barely stand straight it was obvious the man had gone over his alcohol limit.
"You have me mistaken with someone else," she told him before making an attempt to walk away.
Grabbing her upper arm, the man continued to shout causing a scene in front of the guest and staff who were worried about upsetting the wealthy man, "Show me a good time, and I'll make it worth your while, I don't normally go for big girls, but I'll make an exception for you!"
"Please leave me alone," she insisted.
"How dare you deny me, you whore!" he exclaimed tightening his grip on her arm as he refused to let go. "No one says no to me, I'll teach you your place," he said brandishing a dagger.
"Take your hand of me before I break it off," she warned, as with her super strength it would take very little effort to put the man in his place.
Before Zara could take action against the drunkard, the two were interrupted by the presence of a third party who removed the angry man's hand of Zara's arm.
"That's no way to speak to a lady," it was Sin, who had come to Zara's aid.
"Mind your own business interloper; this has nothing to do with you," the drunk said making an attempt to stab Sinbad who easily knocked the blade out of the other man's hand.
"It does when the woman you're harassing had clearly said she doesn't want to go with you," he replied coolly,
At first Sin, had only noticed that the clearly intoxicated man had been harassing a young maiden. When he approached to intervene he noticed it was the cute woman with whom he had come to the city with that day. It took him a moment to recognize her, with her hair out of her ponytail and a dress.
"I suggest you walk away before the guards have to be called," he told the man in a stern tone showing he meant business.
With a grumble the drunk man walked away looking for another drink.
"I could have taken him," Zara said once the man had disappeared from their sight,
In the time she had been away from her world Zara found her behavior changing. Before she would have run away in tears at the thought of someone threatening her like the drunk man did, but with the powers she had gained, so too came a newfound attitude of standing up against those who bullied others to get their way
"You know most people in that situation would say thank you," Sinbad said with a smirk showing he wasn't offended by the lack of gratitude.
Zara looked away, she knew she had been rude when the man really was trying to help her out and for the second time that day.
"Thank you…" she said softly her anger caused by the rude man she had encountered subsiding.
"What were you doing out here?" he asked only to be answered by the sound of a stomach rumbling.
"I was looking for something to eat," she told him
"I have plenty of food in my room," he offered. "I have my own suite separate from my men," he told her as he invited Zara to his room.
"Thank you but I think it would be best if I just returned to my room."
"In that case why don't I escort you back to your room," he said putting his hand on the small of her back.
Climbing up the stairs, Zara missed the last step, she fell forward.
Sin caught the girl before she could hit the ground resulting in Zara landing on Top of each other.
Zara had closed her eyes in anticipation for the impact. After a second she opened her eyes to find herself on top of the merchant's muscled torso with her hands atop his Pecs.
'Wow his chest is firm,' she thought before she realized where she had her hands and quickly removed them from atop his chest.
"Oh! Excuse me sir…I didn't see anything!" The maid ran down the stairs.
Zara realized how they must have appeared to the old woman.
Sinbad sat up with Zara still on his lap, his hands having moved from her arm to her bottom in the tumble.
"We should probably get going," she said getting up before walking ahead of Sin, hoping he didn't see the flushed look on her face.
"Well, this is the room….Um, thanks for the assist," she said.
The two stood in silence for a moment in front of the door as Zara had her back to Sin. Things got a bit awkward when Zara turned around to give Sin a hug while at the same time Sin leaned in head first thinking he was going to receive a kiss.
Instead Zara ended up hitting the man in the face, dying of embarrassment, Zara didn't say a word as she ran into the room and pressed her back against the door.
'I can't believe I did something so lame! Okay Zara calm down girl you just gotta put him out of your mind,' she thought as she headed for one of the beds.
+++++ A New Reality ++++++
"Sinbad where were you?" A worried Ja'far inquired.
"I was with that woman from earlier, the one with the children," he answered.
"Sin, please tell me you didn't sleep with that woman," he said exasperated. "And tell me the truth."
"Don't work yourself up Ja'far," he said in a relaxed manner. "And no, all we did was talk while I walked her back to her room. Where she proceeded to hit me," he told him showing the mark n his cheek.
"Hurry up and get some rest, we have to be at the palace soon," Jafar instructed.
+++++ A New Reality ++++++
The next morning Zara awoke to the sun that was shining through the windows of the room she was sharing. Feeling around her bed Zara was shocked to feel her arm draped over a body. Opening her eyes quickly she felt herself calming down to find the fanalise girl next to her. She glanced and notice that Morgiana looked like she had been awake for some time, though with the neutral expression she had it could be a bit hard to tell.
"Can I get up now?" the girl asked.
"I'm really sorry Mor!" she apologized profusely to the quiet girl for having taking her hostage while sleeping.
That night Zara who was sharing the king size bed with the other girl ended up rolling over and draping her arm over Morgiana's waist. When the younger girl tried to move away, Zara's grip tightened and pulled the girl closer to herself. The red head had been slightly surprised at the brunette's strength matching her own causing her to be unable to leave.
At first Morgiana remained quiet not wanting to wake the other, but when a cold breeze caused Morgiana to shiver from the cold, Zara pulled the fanalis girl closer to keep her warm, After which Morgiana stopped struggling and decided to just let the woman hold her for the truth the red-haired girl hadn't mind it and like that someone was holding her so close and kept her warm. Though she did admit she was at a loss when Zara started calling her Sin.
While waiting for the boy, the two got ready for the day, with one of the maids coming in to deliver the laundered clothes.
Finally Aladdin was the last to wake up around noon.
"Last night was a lot of fun, I was so excited that I passed out from Exhaustion," he told Zara when she asked what they had done when she had left the room.
"Even Ugo came out, now that we're friends Ugo isn't nervous around Mor anymore," Aladdin told her excitedly
"Is that so? Good for him, let's hope the same can be said for me," she joked.
"What's wrong Mor?" they asked as they saw the girl staring pensively out the window.
"It's that theives' guild isn't it, because of them all the boats to the dark continent stopped," Aladdin surmised.
"And that means you can't go home, right?" Ahe asled making sure she understood the girl's situation.
"Hey! I know, why don't we ask the mister from yesterday for help. We promised to eat together, we can ask him then," the young boy suggested.
Zara stopped mid step at hearing the boy's suggestion. She had forgotten that Sin had invited them out to lunch the day before. After the events of the previous night she wasn't sure how she was going to face him during the meal.
'It's alright Zara, I'm sure you can get through one meal with the guy, it won't be awkward at all…'
Thanks for Reading "A New Reality".
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